Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
GREG
City Lights Bar and Cabaret was packed. Or at least the piano bar side was packed. I had no idea what was going on in the cabaret portion of the place. Getting hired to play in City Lights on Saturday nights meant they had a high opinion of my talent. I hoped I could live up to their expectations.
During my first set, people came up to introduce themselves as regulars.
I recognized several people from the Broadway shows they’d been in, and my palms started to sweat.
It turned out that playing for Jeremy’s master class had nothing on playing and singing in a piano bar in Greenwich Village on a Saturday night.
Once I got past my nerves, I settled into a groove of performing and interacting with the customers.
Occasionally, someone would grab the nearby microphone and sing along with what I was playing.
Other times, they would request a show tune, and the whole bar would start singing along.
I could honestly say it was the most fun I’d had playing in a long time.
I was close to the end of my first set when I saw Tony D’Angelo and his brother Michael walk up to the bar and order drinks.
While they were waiting, Tony was scanning the bar like he did wherever he was.
When he spotted me, his eyes went wide and a broad grin spread across his handsome face.
He spoke briefly to Michael, then headed my way.
He waited until I finished the song I was playing before coming over to me. “Hey, Greg. How are you doing? It’s been a minute.”
I rose and gave him a quick hug. “Hey, Tony. It’s been since Jeremy and Sean’s wedding, I think.”
He nodded. “Yeah, that was a busy day, for sure.”
Tony’s company had provided security for Jeremy and Sean’s wedding.
Since Jeremy was also friendly with Tony’s family, the entire D’Angelo clan had joined in the festivities.
I’d actually met Tony the year before—the same night I met Jeremy for the first time.
He’d come to the bar to keep an eye on Jeremy because of a stalkerish ex-boyfriend.
“You’re looking good,” Tony said. “I didn’t know you worked in the City.”
I nodded. “I live here now.”
“No shit. When did that happen?”
“Two months ago. I moved here in January,” I replied. “I live up on 125th Street.”
He jerked his thumb in the general direction of north. “I’m on 30th.”
A patron tapped my shoulder to get my attention. I looked at my smartwatch and said to Tony, “I have another ten minutes in this set. Maybe we can have a drink together when I’m on my break.”
He smiled and squeezed my shoulder. “Sounds good. Michael and I will be over by the bar.”
I watched him walk away, noting, as I had done every other time, what a fine ass the man had.
Over the time I’d known Tony, I hadn’t had many opportunities to actually talk to him because he was usually working.
When I’d first seen him at Reilly’s, I could have sworn I’d met him before, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember where.
I had to admit, the man was delicious. Tall and broad-shouldered with just the right amount of stubble on his square jaw.
The flecks of gray at his temples only added to his appeal.
The fine lines around his eyes and mouth spoke of someone who smiled and laughed frequently.
He struck me as a solid, steady man. The kind of man who would make someone a good husband.
Not that I was looking for that. I’d had a run at a serious long-term relationship, and it had almost killed me.
Now I was strictly an apps man. I didn’t think Tony was that kind of guy. He seemed like a man who would want a home and a family. That wasn’t me. Not anymore.
The ten minutes flew by and ended with a rousing chorus of “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton. After the cheers and applause died down, I bowed out and took my break. I found Tony and Michael at a small table on the other side of the bar.
Tony grinned when he saw me approach and indicated the empty third chair. “Have a seat. How long you got?”
“Half an hour,” I replied.
He slid a glass of ice water my way. “I figured you’d need some after all that singing.”
I took a long gulp. “Thanks. It’s been a while since I’ve sung for an extended period of time.”
“You’re good,” Michael said.
I felt my cheeks heat. I still wasn’t used to compliments. “Thank you.”
“Do you want some food?” Tony asked. “We ordered some fries and wings.”
“Says the man who claims he hates bar food,” Michael muttered.
“Hey, they looked good,” Tony objected.
Before Michael could reply, his phone rang. He looked at his screen and frowned. “I have to take this. It might be about our friend in Florida.” He got up and headed for the front door of the bar.
I saw Tony’s brow was furrowed. “Is something wrong?”
He waggled his hand. “Not really. We’re hoping to wrap up a case we’ve been working on for almost a year.”
“Wow, that’s a long time to be working on one case,” I commented.
“It’s for a friend. We’re all very interested in resolving it as quickly as possible.
“I can understand that,” I said.
He nodded. Before he could say anything else, the server came by with the food and three small plates. Tony set the wings and fries in the middle of the table and gave me one of the plates. “Help yourself.”
I took some fries but left the wings. I didn’t want to get too full before singing again. Michael came back to the table but didn’t sit. “I have to get to my computer,” he said to Tony. “I have to check the CCTV in Ft. Lauderdale.”
Tony glanced over at me before saying, “I’m gonna hang out with Greg for a while. I’ll get a rideshare to my apartment.”
Michael nodded absently, grabbed a few fries, and left. I turned back to Tony. “Your brother’s intense.”
Tony watched Michael walk away and shook his head. “Sorry about that. He’s not trying to be rude. He just gets deep into what he’s doing and is blind to anything else.”
I smiled at him. “That’s okay, that means I get to spend some time alone with his hot older brother.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I wanted to sink under the table. I felt my face heat. I covered my mouth with my hand. “I said that aloud, didn’t I?”
He chuckled, and I was drawn to how his dark eyes sparkled with amusement and crinkled at the corners, forming laugh lines. “You think I’m hot, huh?”
In for a penny. “Have you seen you?” I asked. “Yes, you’re hot.” I waved my hand to indicate his whole person. “Plus, you give off that whole protector vibe.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I’ve heard that before. Usually as a complaint.”
I shook my head. “No complaints here. I think it’s sexy.” My eyes widened. I was clearly losing control of my mouth. I couldn’t even blame it on alcohol. What. The. Fuck?
He smirked. “Yeah?”
Might as well keep it going. He doesn’t seem to be objecting. “Yeah.”
He leaned closer to me. “When are you done here?”
I winced. “Not until four a.m.”
It didn’t seem to faze him in the slightest. “Got any plans for after?”
A shiver of anticipation ran up my spine. I moved so I could speak quietly into his ear. “Not at the moment. Did you have something in mind?”
He put a hand on my thigh. “I was thinking you and I could head to my place. See what we can get up to.”
My cock thickened at the thought of his big body surrounding mine. “I like that idea. A lot.”
He grinned and slid his hand up until his fingers grazed my semi. “I can tell. We’ll have to see what we can do about that.”
I hummed quietly. “So many possibilities.”
The server came by and said, “Will said watch your time.”
Will was the bartender. I checked my watch, and my eyes widened. “Shit. I have five minutes to use the bathroom and get back to the piano.”
Tony looked surprised. “That went fast.”
“It did.”
He slowly moved his hand from my thigh. “I’m looking forward to after the show.”
“Me too.” I gestured toward the restroom. “I better get going.”
I hurried to take care of business and wash my hands.
When I got back to the piano, I noticed Tony had moved to a table close by.
He smiled and raised a glass to me when I started playing.
I still felt the thrill of anticipation, but there was something else I couldn’t quite put a finger on.
It was like something inside me settled.
As if having him there made me safe. And I hadn’t felt safe in a very long time.